CONTENTS
Volume 71
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APRIL 2018
|
Number 4
14
21
18
10 Leading the energy future
NRECA looks to the next generation at '18 annual meeting
12 Slam dunk
Cooperation brings broadband internet service to tiny Missouri town
21 I love my truck contest
See some of our readers' best rides
26 Sprouting young gardeners
Gardening offers a bumper crop of benefits for kids
28 In harm's way
Virginia Irwin broke rules and conventions to cover Berlin's fall
34 Rusty revival
Sherry Day creates whimsical art from salvaged metal
photos by Heather Berry
T
here are many beautiful wedding venues in our
state, but none quite as breathtaking as the Chapel of the Ozarks at Top of the Rock in Ridgedale.
Located at the highest point in Taney County, the
Chapel of the Ozarks was built by Ozark craftsmen out
of native limestone. The captivating three-story chapel
boasts 23-foot vaulted ceilings, a bell tower and sweeping views of Table Rock Lake from a blufftop perch. The
picturesque church, seen on our cover, was built in 2014
and seats 180. This is one of four chapels at Big Cedar
Lodge, which hosts an average of 250 weddings a year.
Near the chapel lies the Top of the Rock Golf Course
designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, which also offers
stunning views of Table Rock Lake.
A year after the putting green opened, days of torrential rain opened a sinkhole 40 feet deep and 70 feet wide,
swallowing a putting green designed by golf pro Tom Wat-
IN EVERY ISSUE
4
Cooperation
5
Perspectives
14
Eats
18
Outdoors
30
Recipes
38
Events
44
Neighbors
46
Just4Kids
47
Landscapes
ABOUT OUR COVER
son and part of a scenic pond. The next day when owner
and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris saw the pond
water draining out of a cave a half mile away, he began an
excavation project in search of any connection.
After the excavation of nearly 71,000 loads of material, the sinkhole, now called "The Cathedral of Nature,"
is more than 240 feet deep.
Whether you're headed to Top of the Rock to golf, to
the Chapel of the Ozarks to tie the knot or to enjoy a meal
at one of several restaurants located on the property, be
sure to take a moment to peer into this wonder of nature.
Who knows - Johnny Morris may come up with another
beautiful treasure to share with Missourians.
For more information about the Chapel of the Ozarks,
contact the professional wedding team at 417-339-5159
to schedule a site visit. To learn about the other amenities
Top of the Rock offers visit www.topoftherock.com.
APRIL 2018 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP
3

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